Takeoff and landing platform for vertical takeoff and landing planes



April `1, 1969 G. o. MADELUNG 3,436,036

TAKEUFF AND LANDING PLATFORM FOR VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING PLANES Filed oct. 13, 196e sheet l of 2 Iv-Iv 51 F ig- 6 INVENTOR. 65H0 OTTO MADELUNG ATT RNEYS April l, 1969 G. o. MADELUNG 3,435,035 TAKEOFF AND LANDING PLATFORM FOR VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDNG PLANES Filed Oct. l5, 1966 Sheetl g of 2 INVENToR. 65H0 07'7'0 MADELUNG BYMMJJW A TTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,436,036 TAKEOFF AND LANDING PLATFORM FOR VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING PLANES Gero Otto Madelung, Munich, Germany, assignor to Entwicklungsring Sud GmbH, Munich, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Oct. 13, 1966, Ser. No. 586,478 Claims priority, application Germany, Dec. 23, 1965,

Int. ci. B64f 1/00 U.S. Cl. 244-114 4 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to takeoff and landing platforms for vertical takeoff and landing planes. Such platforms have customarily been equipped with means deflecting hot gases from the propulsion unit to prevent the hot gases from being drawn into the inflows of the propulsion units. Heretofore fixed guide vanes or channels t0 deflect the hot gases laterally have been used, and the prior art is exemplified by British Patent 867,944 and U.S. Patent 3,016,214.

Platforms with fixed guide vanes have two disadvantages; during landing or hovering beside the platform, the gases are redeflected upwards through the guide vanes, and relatively heavy vanes have been required. The invention herein eliminates the disadvantages through simple means which do not permit upward reflection of the gas stream. Herein the gases are deflected into various planes below the platform, the deflecting means preventing a reflection of the gases back to the power source. Generally, the foregoing result is obtained through the use 0f flaps or valves so disposed that the gases are divided into a plurality of streams and wherein adjustability of the reflectors obtains greatly improved results, and disposal of the flaps permits maximum dispersion over a wide area.

Additionally, to transfer the reaction forces to the ground, occurring particularly in the case of closed valves, special moorings are provided, which provide a force-locking and a form-locking connection of the platform with the ground, the moorings being -connected at the intersection of three structural members, thus providing maximum strength and holding power.

The invention will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, and the more detailed description herein:

FIGURE l shows a vertical takeoff and landing plane shortly before lifting from a platform or shortly before setting down on the platform disclosed herein;

FIGURE 2 shows a platform with parallel flaps Ibut swinging in opposite directions to divide and direct the gas stream in opposite directions;

FIGURE 3 shows a platform with the flaps directing the gas stream in four directions;

FIGURE 4 shows a platform with round flaps or valves;

FIGURE 5 is a section on line II-II of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 6 is a section on line IV-IV of FIGURE 4.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the hot gases of the propul- 3,436,036 Patented Apr. 1, 1969 ICC sion lifting power units 11, 12, 13 of the vertical takeoff and landing aircraft designated by 10, which are directed downwardly and by the means disclosed herein are deflected to prevent a reverse flow. As seen in the device 21 of FIGURE l, the gases from lifter power unit 11 are directed to the platform 30, and the gases of the power unit I2 are directed to the platform 31, the latter platform being stepped down so that the platforms are in different but parallel horizontal planes, although the desired result is obtained with a single level platform, as shown in FIGURES 2 through 4.

All of the platforms 21, 22, 23 and 24 of FIGURES 1 through 4 are provided with a plurality of openings to permit the gas to flow therethrough.

The openings 41 (see FIG. 5) in the platforms of FIGURES 1 through 3 are rectangular, being relatively narrow compared to their length, Each opening 41 is normally closed by a like shaped closure 40 which is hinged along one length of the closure, adjacent 'a platform portion, for opening in a downwardly direction. Each platform portion thus becomes a cross-Slat member of lesser width than the closures so that a minimum volume of gas will impinge and be deflected thereby.

Associated with each closure or deflector is a stop member 42, 42', 42", etc., for limiting the downwardly opening of the closure, the stop member shown being an arcuate arm secured forwardly of closure hinge and extending rearwardly of the hinge to engage the adjacent platform and limit the opening of the closure.

The dark outer ends of the stops 42 are removable tips which may be interchanged for longer ones whereby the closure may be adjusted to open at different angles, thereby changing the angles of the deflectors. The stop members 42 are also weighted at their outer ends to an act as counter-balances to return the closures to closed position, or spring means associated with the hinge may be provided.

As indicated in FIGURE 5, the closures 40 are each at an acute angle to the platform 30, the angle increasing with each successive closure. This stream of gas flowing through the platform is thus subdivided into a plurality of streams deflected in the same direction but in overlying paths with minimuml intermingling `and reflection, as each deflector also constitutes a baille, preventing reversal of the stream passing under it.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 2, approximately half the closures 40 relative to the transverse center line of plate 32 swing counterclockwise and the other half clockwise. In FIGURE 3, the plate is divided into quadrants and the closures open to deflect the gases to the four quadrants.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, the surface plate 34 is provided with a plurality of circular openings l51 normally closed by circular closures or valve 51, beveled edges on the periphery of the openings and closures preventing the latter from passing through the openings. The closures 52 are disposed centrally of a guide member slidably mounted in an opening provided in a U guide stop member 52 depending from the plate 34. The valves are normally urged to closed position by the spring '53 interposed between the valve and stop member on the valve guide. Herein the gases will flow through the opening 51 and the valves Si) will deflect them' in all directions.

The platforms are anchored in position by means of moorings 60, secured to the supporting plates `67 at the foot of each leg or supporting column 65 which depends from the respective plates of the platforms. To add further strength, diagonals 66 extend Ibetween the bottom of each leg to the top of an adjacent leg. In this manner, the juncture 67 of the bottom of the legs with the diagonals, plates `67 and anchor 60 constitute an interlocking connection. The anchors may include ukes or barbs 61.

I claim:

1. A jet stream dispersion platform of the character described, comprising a at plate member, said plate member having an upper jet stream inlet side and a lower jet stream outlet side, supporting legs therefor, foot members on the lower ends of said legs, diagonal brace members extending from the lower of one leg to the upper end of an adjacent leg, anchor means secured at the juncture of the legs and brace members, said plate member having a plurality of openings therethrough, a downwardly opening closure for each of the openings, and means on said outlet side limiting the downward movement of each closure to less than 90.

2. A platform as dened in claim 1 wherein the openings in the plate are rectangular and relatively narrow compared to their length, said closures being similarly shaped and hingedly connected to the plate along a length, thereof, and said means comprising an arcuate arm between the outlet side of said plate and the underside of said closure.

3. A jet stream dispersion platform of the character described, comprising a flat plate member, supporting legs therefor, said plate member having a plurality of openings therethrough, said openings lbeing rectangular and relatively narrow compared to their length, a downwardly opening closure for each of the openings, said yclosures being similarly shaped and hingedly connected to the plate along a length thereof, and means limiting the downward movement of each closure to less than 90, said closure limiting means being weighted to provide a counterbalance.

4. A jet stream dispersion platform of the character described, comprising a flat plate member, supporting legs therefor, said plate member having a plurality of openings therethrough, said openings being .rectangular and relatively narrow compared to their length, a downwardly opening closure for each of the openings, said closures being similarly shaped and hingedly connected to the plate along a length thereof with some of the closures swingable clockwise and others swingable counterclockwise, and means limiting the downward movement of each closure to less than 90,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,726,830 12/1955 Brown et al. 244-114 2,862,438 12/1958 Mader 98-1l6 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,186,310 2/1959 France.

886,204 1/ 1962 Great Britain. 886,330 l/1962 Great Britain.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

PAUL E. SAUBERER, Assistant Examiner. 

